Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS:

While energy drinks (EDs) and alcohol have been reported to be frequently co-administered, little is known about the effect of this co-administration on alcohol drinking patterns. The purpose of the present research was to characterise patterns of ED and alcohol co-administration.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

Seventy-two ED users were recruited from the Halifax university community. Participants provided information about their lifetime ED and other substance use, in addition to detailing instances of their ED and alcohol use during the previous week using a timeline follow-back interview.

RESULTS:

Seventy-six per cent of participants reported ever deliberately mixing alcohol with EDs and 19% reported doing so during the previous week. Relative to alcohol drinking sessions in which EDs were not used, participants reported drinking significantly more alcohol when it was co-administered with EDs.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

Alcohol and ED co-administration is relatively common among ED users and seems to be associated with increased alcohol ingestion. It is recommended that this matter receive more clinical and research attention.